Month: April 2022

A recap of some scriptures mainly from the short Book of Titus on being a people, ‘eager to do what is Good’. Titus 2:14

⁸ Rather, he (an elder) must be HOSPITABLE (unexpected first qualification), one who LOVES WHAT IS GOOD, Titus 1:8

Elders, those in leadership, must Love what is Good. It should be a visible quality in their lives.

In 2 Timothy 3:3, Paul’s previous letter, he said that in the Last Days people would not be Lovers of Good nor of God. Loving the Good is a protection for us in these times!

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, … but TO TEACH WHAT IS GOOD. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, SO THAT NO ONE WILL MALIGN THE WORD OF GOD (the people we meet daily read our lives). Titus 2

Older women are regarded as ‘Knowledge Keepers’ in some societies and Paul urged here that they should guide the younger women in their way of life. Godly Women are a safe guide for younger ones and can certainly help many in the Body of Christ.

⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ IN EVERYTHING SET THEM AN EXAMPLE BY DOING WHAT IS GOOD. (OUR LIVES ARE OPEN BOOKS READ BY ALL) … so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. Titus 2

Derek and Ruth Prince used Titus 2:11-14 as a spoken Proclamation over their lives and in ministry;

¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself A PEOPLE THAT ARE HIS VERY OWN, EAGER TO DO WHAT IS GOOD.

⁷ When ·people live so that they please the Lord [people’s paths DRAW THE LORD’S FAVOUR]
even their enemies will make peace with them. Proverbs 16 EXB

Walking in God’s ways will Draw His Favour and manifold blessings upon our lives and even our enemies will live at peace with us. Hallelujah

¹⁴ Our people MUST LEARN TO DEVOTE themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. Titus 3

We must ‘Learn to do what is pleasing to God/Live for Him’, and not to continue in the ways we’ve been conditioned to by this world system and it’s values.

Fathersloveministry is a faith based ministry, please Donate on our webpage today and help support the Father’s work;

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Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Lord is no man’s debtor, Hallelujah.

God rewards those who give to Him, don’t miss out on your blessings, give to Him today.

We are available to seek personal words of direction and encouragement for those who want them. Please contact us on our webpage above. We can also provide counselling online, contact our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

The Lord bless and keep you today.

⁷ When anyone’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
    he causes even their enemies to live at peace with them. Proverbs 16 

⁷ When ·people live so that they please the Lord [people’s paths DRAW THE LORD’S FAVOUR]
even their enemies will make peace with them. EXB

We have been looking in Titus how many times Paul (8 times), by the Spirit, urges Titus to tell the Believers in Crete to live Good lives. There’s an exciting promise in Proverbs 16 for those who please the Lord, it says that God Himself will make even our enemies (those who dislike us) to live at peace with us! The wording in the Expanded Bible is very encouraging, ‘our paths Draw the Lord’s Favour’. So there are blessings for living to please our God. Joseph sold into Egypt, Samuel the young boy who grew to be the judge and prophet of Israel, King David the youngest and a lowly shepherd boy, all walked in God’s Favour. God’s Favour will bless every area of our lives as we learn to walk in it.

3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be READY TO DO WHATEVER IS GOOD, Titus 3

The heading in our Bibles for Titus 3 (added later by man) is ‘Doing what is Good or saved in order to do Good’, that’s the focus of this chapter. (Chapters were also added after by man)

Paul tells Titus that the believers must BE READY to do Good. They must BE PREPARED in life to take opportunity to do Good and God who sees our hearts will reward us.

⁸ And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God MAY BE CAREFUL TO DEVOTE THEMSELVES TO DOING GOOD. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Titus 3

God wants us to be Careful to do Good. Jesus said when Joseph and Mary came looking for Him in the Temple, ‘Didn’t you know I must be about My Father’s business’. We as believers need to have the same attitude, God has called everyone of us for a purpose. Let’s try our best to fulfil it.

¹⁴ Our people MUST LEARN TO DEVOTE themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

We have all come out of this world where we’ve been trained and conditioned to live in ways that are the opposite of the Kingdom of God. We have to LEARN GOD’S WAYS now and live differently to those around us. It may take time and effort to change, not to put ourselves first, but to look for ways to bless and be a blessing. As we walk on His path we will enjoy and Draw the Lord’s Favour upon our lives.

God BLESS and KEEP you today and everyday.

There are six further references in the short Book of Titus where Paul instructs Titus that the Believers should do Good. (Three in chapter 2 and three in chapter 3)

³ Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, … but TO TEACH WHAT IS GOOD. ⁴ Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, SO THAT NO ONE WILL MALIGN THE WORD OF GOD (the people we meet daily read our lives). Titus 2

Older women are regarded as ‘Knowledge Keepers’ in some communities and Paul urged here that they should guide the younger women in their way of life. Godly Women can certainly help many believers in the Body of Christ.

⁶ Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. ⁷ IN EVERYTHING SET THEM AN EXAMPLE BY DOING WHAT IS GOOD. (Once again our lives are open books, read by all) … so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. (They obviously faced opposition and Paul urged that Believers shouldn’t present the critics any opportunity to malign the Lord’s people)

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. ¹² It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, EAGER TO DO WHAT IS GOOD. 

(VERSES 11-14 were a powerful Proclamation used by Derek and Ruth Prince privately and while they ministered the Word. It may be beneficial for us to SPEAK IT ALOUD over our own lives.)

God’s Grace is available for all, but we must acknowledge Christ and His sacrifice to partake in it. We need to live Godly lives in this age now to share with the Lord in eternity.

Verse 14, Christ gave Himself for us to redeem a people (a Bride) of His very own, EAGER TO DO what is Good. There’s a difference between religious observances and being Eager to do what’s Good, our hearts have to want to be like the  Lord.

God bless and keep you today.

We finished yesterday’s blog by noting that the promise of Luke 6:38, ‘Give and you shall receive’ was preceded by Jesus’ decree not to judge.

³⁷ ‘DO NOT JUDGE, and you will not be judged. DO NOT CONDEMN, and you will not be condemned. FORGIVE, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ GIVE, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ Luke 6

The question is, could some of us be missing out on our blessings by Judging, Condemning or failing to Forgive? If there’s any possibility of this, then we should repent (change our mind) for the Lord will always forgive us.

³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their STRENGTHENING, ENCOURAGING AND COMFORT. 1 Corinthians 14 NIV

³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for EDIFICATION (building up), EXHORTATION (might have some correction), and CONSOLATION. NASB

New Testament prophets are not permitted to verbally abuse God’s people. Old Testament prophets often spoke God’s judgement to people after long periods of disobedience. The prophetic has a different emphasis in the Church. What would happen in the today’s Church if we all spoke (not prophetically, just in conversation with one another) only to edify, encourage and comfort? Words create atmosphere and if we use the wrong words, spoken in the wrong spirit they may taint the whole body. God’s Spirit will lift and the enemy usually has a free hand, often with disastrous results for the Believers.

The lesson in these scriptures is that we do need to guard our words and not give the enemy access, we bear the  responsibility to keep him out of our lives.

God bless and keep you today.

 

 

 

Paul’s letter to Titus, ‘my true son in our common faith’ has a number of serious instructions using the word ‘good’.

The first mention is regarding the appointing of elders.

⁸ Rather, he must be hospitable, one who LOVES what is GOOD, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. Titus 1

Paul’s first recommendation for an elder, by the Spirit, is that he be hospitable. Welcoming of people into his home, an unexpected choice perhaps. The elder must also be one who LOVES what is GOOD; has an attitude of heart that seeks the Good. This may be a PROTECTION FOR US in the times we live in!

3 But mark this: there will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, NOT LOVERS OF THE GOOD, … 2 Timothy 3:3 

In the second Book of Timothy, Paul describes what it will be like in the last days and in the middle of his long list regarding corrupted humanity he says people will NOT BE ‘Lovers of Good’. Unless we are ‘Lovers of Good’, setting ourselves to pursue Goodness and God Himself, we may literally be swamped by the evil around us. We cannot afford to just drift along or go with the flow in these times!

Paul then gives Titus some strong advice regarding the people of Crete, where Paul had left him.

¹⁰ For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, … Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith … ¹⁵ TO THE PURE, ALL THINGS ARE PURE (they don’t think that way), but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶ They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and UNFIT FOR DOING ANYTHING GOOD. 

These people’s ‘minds and consciences’ were so tainted that Paul, by the Spirit, stated they were UNFIT to do anything Good. That’s not a place any of us ever want to find ourselves.

We end with some of Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel;

³⁷ ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.’ Luke 6

Be careful NOT TO JUDGE (there’s only one Judge) and BE A GENEROUS GIVER, BECAUSE THAT’S THE KINGDOM WAY TO BLESSING. WRONG JUDGEMENT CAN HINDER OUR BLESSINGS!

God bless and keep you today.

God’s Promise of great Rewards for Obedience, even under the Old Covenant; we have a better Covenant, Hebrews 8:6.

Leviticus 26:1-13 lists God’s Promises for following His Law.

The chapter begins with a command; no idols, no images (very relevant for today’s Tech devices and platforms) nor sacred stones. Anything that would take the Place of God was non-negotiable and still is for Believers. He warned against idols Defiling The Land, also happens today.

The second unequivocal command for Israel was to Observe MY SABBATHS and reverence His Sanctuary.

God won’t tolerate any other gods and requires us to set apart time for Him (My Sabbaths), time to honour and thank Him for all His goodness to us.

³ “IF YOU FOLLOW MY DECREES AND ARE CAREFUL TO OBEY MY COMMANDS, ⁴ I WILL … Leviticus 26

⁴ I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. …and YOU WILL EAT ALL THE FOOD YOU WANT and live in safety in your land.

ALL THE FOOD YOU CAN EAT.

⁶ ‘“I WILL GRANT PEACE IN THE LAND, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. ⁷ YOU WILL PURSUE YOUR ENEMIES, AND THEY WILL FALL … BEFORE YOU.

PEACE, SECURITY AND VICTORY OVER THOSE WHO WOULD HARM US.

⁹ ‘“I WILL LOOK ON YOU WITH FAVOUR AND MAKE YOU FRUITFUL and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. ¹⁰ You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new.

FAVOUR, FRUITFULNESS AND SURPLUS.

¹¹ I WILL PUT MY DWELLING-PLACE AMONG YOU, and I will not abhor you. ¹² I WILL WALK AMONG YOU AND BE YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE.

THE GREATEST BLESSING OF ALL, GOD WITH US.

¹³ I am the Lord your God, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF EGYPT SO THAT YOU WOULD NO LONGER BE SLAVES TO THE EGYPTIANS; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

The world has been through tough times but God is on the move now, breaking yokes that have burdened people for a long time. The slavery to the Egyptians is coming to an end!

We serve a good God who wants to bless His Children. Hallelujah

Fathersloveministry is a faith based ministry, please Donate on our webpage today and help support the Father’s work;

fathersloveministry.co.uk

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER. 2 Corinthians 9:7

The Lord is no man’s debtor, Hallelujah.

God rewards those who give to Him, don’t miss out on your blessings, give to Him today.

We are available to seek personal words of direction and encouragement for those who want them. Please contact us on our webpage above. We can also provide counselling online, contact our webpage. A donation is normally required for this service.

The Lord bless and keep you today.

 

 

² He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
    in the shadow of his hand he hid me; Isaiah 49

We saw yesterday how the Lord’s own mouth was likened to a double-edged sword. He praised the Church of Pergamum, Revelation 2:12-17, but also spoke words of correction to them and again the reference to the sword. Finally in Revelation 19:15, 21, He fought and conquered all His enemies with the sword of His mouth. We should Remember that God spoke all of creation into being by His Word.

Isaiah, the mighty Old Testament prophet also made the connection between the sword and the mouth. Interestingly his next words were about being ‘hidden in the shadow of the Lord’s hand’. The sharp words spoken by God’s prophets weren’t always well received and only God Himself could protect them, often from His own people.

Yet some of the words in Isaiah 49 are encouraging and brought revelation for the God’s future plans.

⁴ But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain;
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
YET WHAT IS DUE TO ME IS IN THE LORD’S HAND,
    AND MY REWARD IS WITH MY GOD.’ Revelation 49

That’s a powerful promise for us, to look to God for His reward, He knows our needs and all we’ve done for Him.

⁶ He says:
‘It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I WILL ALSO MAKE YOU A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
    THAT MY SALVATION MAY REACH THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.’ Revelation 49

God revealed His plan of salvation for all mankind through these words of prophecy.

¹² For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4

Hebrews gives us a final reference to God’s Word being like a double-edged sword, penetrating even to to dividing very close things in our lives. Many times God will speak to us as we read the Word. Derek Prince started to read God’s Word as an unsaved university professor; I wonder who organised that. After some time he realised that he wasn’t just reading the Word, but that it was reading Him (the Living Word).

I read a powerful quote in connection with our words. Like our Heavenly Father WE ALSO CREATE BY OUR OWN WORDS.

‘WORDS ARE CONTAINERS OF POWER’ THAT CREATE ACTION’. THEY BUILD OR THEY TEAR DOWN. (Christianity.com – Danielle Bernock)

Truly ‘life and death’ are in the power of our tongues.

God bless and keep you today.

 

 

The mouth or tongue is a double-edged sword (can cut both ways).

²¹ Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18 HCSB

MAXIMUM QUANTITY, BEST QUALITY – the wine at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. (Only in John’s Gospel)

The Lord, despite initial reluctance to be involved, rescued the wedding hosts with the very best and plenty of it!

⁷ JESUS SAID TO THE SERVANTS, ‘FILL THE JARS WITH WATER’; SO ‘THEY FILLED THEM’ TO THE BRIM. John 2

Jesus didn’t say that’s too much, hold on there, those are large vessels, so ‘THEY’ filled the jars TO THE BRIM (Very Top, Most they could get in). How many of us come to God with a small measure, something like a tea spoon? The Lord wasn’t taken aback by the volume of these six stone jars. GOOD WINE is usually served in smaller quantities but this was served in ABUNDANCE. THE HOST’S LACK was more than compensated for by the Lord’s generosity. ABUNDANCE is a good word to keep in mind when we approach the Throne of God’s Grace. (Grace, that which we haven’t earned)

⁸ Then he told them, ‘Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.’

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.

It wasn’t just the Quantity of the wine, it was the QUALITY. I’m sure that was the BEST WINE that Master of Banquets had ever tasted and also the guests.

Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, ‘Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; BUT YOU HAVE SAVED THE BEST TILL NOW.’ 

The world often disappoints, promising much and giving little and of poor quality. The Lord changed what the Master and probably the people expected, THE BEST HAD BEEN KEPT TILL THE LAST, a word of Encouragement for mature believers. Have you asked the Lord what He’s kept by for you? Cheap wine gives headaches and so does much that the world promises, but ‘the blessing of the Lord brings wealth and He adds no sorrow to it’. Proverbs 10:22

Finally, in keeping with the words of the Master of the Banquet so long ago, we read in Revelation 19:9

(Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.)

⁹ Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO ARE INVITED TO WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB!’ And he added, ‘These are the true words of God.’ Revelation 19

The Lord who suffered so much on the cross will have His reward, a huge celebration in the form of a wedding feast. A reminder perhaps of His first miracle at Cana in Galilee.

God bless and keep you today.

Once again we come to Easter Time to celebrate Christ’s Passion and Victory over death and hell.

Some scriptures from John’s Gospel to reflect upon, Firstly TO PREPARE HIS DISCIPLES for all that lay ahead;

²⁰ Very truly I tell you, YOU WILL WEEP AND MOURN WHILE THE WORLD REJOICES. You will grieve, but YOUR GRIEF WILL TURN TO JOY. John 16

The world Rejoiced at that which caused the Disciples grief,  but Jesus told them their grief was only for a short time. He would overcome and return again.

²² So with you: now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and YOU WILL REJOICE, AND NO ONE WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR JOY. (Hallelujah)

We have a personal Saviour who knows and cares for us individually (Good Shepherds often know each sheep in their flocks).

²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing near by, he said to her, ‘WOMAN, HERE IS YOUR SON,’ ²⁷ and to the disciple, ‘HERE IS YOUR MOTHER.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19

28 Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ (Jesus remained human to the end.)

³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘IT IS FINISHED.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (Jesus declared He’d fulfilled His Calling on earth, the reason He’d come. At the end that’s what counts.)

The means of Jesus’ death was a direct fulfilment of the prophetic scriptures, it had to be that way;

³⁶ THESE THINGS HAPPENED SO THAT THE SCRIPTURE WOULD BE FULFILLED: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken,’ ³⁷ and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’ 

Finally, looking further ahead after the Sabbath. Mary Magdalene went alone to the tomb;

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’

She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’).

¹⁷ Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. GO INSTEAD TO MY BROTHERS and tell them, “I AM ASCENDING TO MY FATHER AND YOUR FATHER, TO MY GOD AND YOUR GOD.”’ (What a glorious statement, the Risen Christ’s first words!)

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20

May God bless you and give you peace during this Easter time.